Month: June 2016

About the Book

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Liberty comes with a price. Can a fledgling nation bear the cost?

British forces advance upon a struggling colonial army. The time of decision has come. Declare independence, or give up the fight. The weight of a nation rests on Samuel Adams’ shoulders as he joins the delegates of the Second Continental Congress. Can he raise the cause of Liberty above the fear of the King’s wrath in the hearts of his countrymen?

Three riveting short stories follow Samuel Adams as he struggles through the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence and evokes the Dawn of Liberty.

Dawn of Liberty

Liberty hangs in the balance. With Pennsylvania’s vote divided, the declaration may not pass. Samuel Adams has two hours to convince the delegates to pass the document, or the lives sacrificed for freedom will be worthless.

A Shot at Freedom

“The Regulars are coming!”

Samuel Adams is awakened by Revere’s cry of alarm. A large force of British soldiers are marching on Lexington to seize him and his compatriot John Hancock. Adams and Hancock encourage the militia to make a stand against the Regulars, but should they stay and join the fight, or escape to safety?

Travail of a Nation

Samuel Adams felt the weight of the nation resting on his shoulders as he and his cousin entered the Pennsylvania State House. If the declaration did not pass today, their chances at ever truly gaining independence were all but lost. The British forces bound to arrive in New York any day would crush their revolution if it was not bolstered by a formal declaration. The “Travail Of A Nation” has begun…

About the Author

Author of over half a dozen books, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Visit her online atwww.AmberSchamel.com/

Guest Post From Amber Schamel

On July 4th, 2016, Americans across the nation will celebrate the 240th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Besides the basic overview you got in history class, how much do you really know about the document and the men that signed it?

As an American and a history nerd, I was upset when I realized how much I didn’t know the struggle these men went through, who they really were, what they felt, and what they were putting on the line when they signed their name to that document. There are SO many inspiring stories in the signers and founding fathers, so when I began looking at which signer to feature in Dawn of Liberty, it was a tough decision to pick only one. One of the signers was terminally ill and rode unthinkable miles through the rain to be there in time to sway the vote. Most were away from their homes and families for incredible amounts of time. Some sacrificed fame and fortune.

But after looking through all of the names, I ended up with Samuel Adams. Sam is such a passionate and inspiring character, and I really related to him. He voiced his passion for freedom and independence before the idea was popular, spent countless nights writing articles and pamphlets promoting the cause, always held faith and optimism that someday the Colonies would be free from the tyranny of England. His character is so intriguing and inspiring…Yet, Sam is only known as a beer brand.

Talk about infuriating a history nerd!

Sam Adams is a patriot and a hero. The more I learned and read about him, the more I liked him. Americans should know Sam for who he really is, rather than as the icon to sell liquor. That’s why I am so excited for people to meet Sam in DAWN OF LIBERTY. These stories give folks a chance to experience the tension in Philadelphia at the time of the signing, meet some of the signers, and feel the weight of the decision placed in their hands. It is my hope that this collection of short stories will make the signers more than just portraits in a history book. By the time you finish reading it, my prayer is that you feel you know Sam and his compatriots as friends.

My thoughts:

When I was a teenager I really hated history. All of those dates and facts got all jumbled in my head and I ended up passing by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin. In college, history (actually the C’s and D’s) cost me my scholarships, so I had to switch to a community college. All that said, I want the reader to understand that I REALLY have a bad taste in my mouth for all things history-related.

HOWEVER….once I found historical fiction I began to love history. Once I started seeing that history was merely a combination of stories of people at certain time periods, history became a joy to read. Sure, I like stories, that is why I read and write.

When I first saw Amber’s book, I signed up to review it with a little trepidation. But once I read the first few lines I was hooked. The story of our founding fathers, from the point of view of Samuel Adams, was so enlightening. The way we, as the readers, were able to get a glimpse of the inner struggles as well as the outward conflict with those in opposition gave me a greater appreciation for what had to happen for this country to become the nation it is today.

I am not sure if all of the relationships were just like written in the story, but I choose to believe that they were. The way the personalities of John Hancock as well as Paul Revere and the Adams cousins were portrayed was so vivid. The whole story was beautifully woven and presented. I look forward to reading more of the author’s works, knowing that she has put so much time into researching and writing these tales in a way in which we can place ourselves. Refreshing!

About the Book

Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she’d never even heard of, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She’s desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody’s making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn’t seem willing to help.

A Brave Firefighter with an Agenda of His Own

Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a doctor-in-training. With suspicious barn fires escalating, and the Miller family being among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam.

A Kindled Flame Neither One Could Have Anticipated

When their paths first cross at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or fight. And they’ll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno.

My Thoughts:

We all have lapses in judgement, no matter who you are. Such is the case for Abigail, an young Amish woman who is new to the area and trying to make new friends. She finds herself in a situation in which she is the prime suspect in a series of fires. Sam, a volunteer firefighter, is the first to accuse Abigail of setting the fires. But after a series of unfortunate accidents, Sam begins to see that his assessments were incorrect and that Abigail was, indeed, innocent.

I absolutely loved this story! I related to each of the character, even in a small way, and that drew me in to their lives. Abigail, having a troubled and mysterious past, must come to terms that there are still people who care about her well-being. She has to see her future, not in light of her past, but through the eyes of an all-loving God. Sam tries to find his way in life and overcome a bad decision to look for a relationship outside of the faith and Amish community. He finds hope in a newcomer whose innocence is not only refreshing but inviting. All of the supporting characters are rich in nature and make a very warm and full story. I did not want to read the last pages, knowing it was the end, but at the same time, I knew that the story would go on, even if only in my head.

About the Author

Laura V. Hilton

Amish fiction lovers responded positively and immediately to Laura V. Hilton’s debut novel, Patchwork Dreams, when she burst on the scene in 2009 with her unique series, The Amish of Seymour, set in the tiny town of Seymour, in Webster County, Missouri. Fans of the genre immediately recognized Hilton’s insider knowledge, not only of the Webster County community, but Amish culture in general. Her natural speech and writing patterns, she says, are uniquely “Amish,” acquired from her Amish maternal grandparents. The Amish of Seymour, includesPatchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, is comprised ofHealing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love. A stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County, was released in September 2014. The Birdhouseconcluded Laura’s 2015 series, The Amish of Jamesport, includes The Snow Globe,The Postcard and The Birdhouse. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Laura and her husband, Steve, have five children, whom Laura homeschools. The family makes their home in Arkansas.

For more about Laura, her latest book, the books she’s written and those she’s reviewed:

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Unlike some authors, I am not a planner. I have a very vague idea of the story, of the series, and as soon as the characters step forward and introduce themselves I dive in and start writing. When I first began writing this series – New Beginnings in Jamesport – I knew Sammy Miller was going to be the hero. Readers started asking for Sammy’s story as soon as they read The Postcard where Sammy was the villain. Ouch. I’d never considered writing a story about a former villain. But just as David in The Postcard was reader requested, Sammy would be.

Sammy is a very strong character and I knew he had to have a strong female lead character, one that wasn’t afraid to stand up to him and keep him under control. He is a leader, an EMT studying to be a paramedic, and a volunteer firefighter. The female lead, Abigail, is thrown into Jamesport without warning. Her step-father takes her to the bus station and sends her away and she doesn’t even know why! When she is met at the bus station by an aunt and uncle she didn’t even know existed, she is thrown into the middle of several mysteries, including barn fires set by arsonists. And she is the main suspect.

The whole New Beginnings in Jamesport series, while considered a continuation of The Amish of Jamesport series due to Sammy being the hero, is set around Amish starting over in Jamesport. The second book The Amish Wanderer is about a former resident of Jamesport hitchhiking across the country to get to his Mennonite uncle’s house in Pennsylvania. Silas is desperate to escape from his dysfunctional family for several reasons. But he cannot stay in Jamesport because someone is out to kill him. When he stumbles upon another mystery within hours of his arrival, what choice does he have but to stick around for awhile?

God gave me the verses for all three books in the Amish of Jamesport series The Amish Firefighter, The Amish Wanderer and the yet untitled third book (My books all stand alone) before I started writing them, which is unusual. He usually reveals these things slowly to me, as I need to know. The verse for The Amish Firefighter is Isaiah 43:2-4 and the verse for The Amish Wandereris Romans 8:38-39. The third book’s verse is 2 Corinthians 4:8. It is tentatively titled The Amish Accountant, but most people think accountants are boring, and his real profession is a clockmaker. But The Amish Clockmaker has already been taken by another author. So we shall see what the wonderful Whitaker House team will come up with. It is about another young Amish woman, Lydia, who needs a “safe haven.” So her parents send her to live with her Mennonite aunt and uncle in Jamesport. It doesn’t exactly work out as planned, as the aunt and uncle leave for a foreign mission trip immediately, leaving Lydia acting manager of a gift shop and living in an all electric apartment. Before her aunt leaves, she tells Lydia’s secrets to her best friend. But did she tell all of them or some of them? And the best friend’s son, Caleb (the clockmaker) is acting as accountant for the gift shop. And what about Caleb’s carefully kept secret? When Lydia’s past catches up with her, will it destroy all she’d begun to imagine as she dreamed of starting over in Jamesport?

Next after that is The Christmas Challenge which is also set in Jamesport.

I don’t have official release dates for The Amish Wanderer or the other books yet. But as soon as I know, I’ll share.

Coming next? Who knows? I have two ideas warring for attention—but which one gets told first, I don’t know! I lean toward one, then the other. They both want to be told.

And now, I must get back to work. Thank you for visiting today and thank you so much for supporting my books. I do hope you’ll enjoy The Amish Firefighter!

About the Book

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It was more than she dreamt. But as the romance began to bud, she felt the thorns of a heartless beauty rise to tear it apart.

Young widow, Katie Jensen, endures patiently under her oppressive uncle in desolate Arizona Territory. She tries to keep her promise to her dead aunt to be a witness and take care of her uncle but when his tirades grow worse, she gathers her two precious little ones and runs.

Making their way to an unknown land, they come to the town of White Rock, which is strangely like the place in the dreams Katie has been having. They are welcomed into the cottage of a kindly grandmother who takes in borders.

When Danny, the older woman’s grandson, comes home, he finds surprises in store: a crisis, a beautiful young woman, and her adorable children who bring laughter and life into all their weary souls.

Katie is filled with hope when an unexpected romance sparks but there is a vindictive raven-haired beauty and an old enemy conspiring to put it out—permanently.

Will God give Katie rest as she and the family pray for their enemies?

Can she stand strong in her faith when fear overwhelms her?

My Thoughts:

Katie, like many women, deals with doubt – doubt in herself. She has faith that the Lord is with her, but she has difficulty seeing the end purpose of God’s plan. Like many women, she doubts that she is pretty enough, smart enough, worthy enough, to be loved by someone who, in our eyes is a prince. Sandy Faye Mauck weaves a wonderful story about a woman who comes to terms with who she is and WHOSE she is. Her prince is a man who has seen the worst in others and is able to deal wisely with the situations in which he is faced. My favorite character, however, is Grandma Gwen who has seen so much pain in her life yet turns to the One who continues to give life. Her faith in the Lord and continued optimism in those around her inspires me to want to be like her at that age, if not sooner.

About the Author

Sandy Faye Mauck writes Historical Romance in the light of the gospel and with the heart of her Savior.

Slip into a comfy chair with a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and travel back to the first years after the turn of the century.

Enjoy faithful Christian characters who have come through a spiritual wilderness into a place of hope. Stories of charming romance sprinkled with humor and topped with redemption. And be sure not to put the cup too close to the edge of the table because there are enemies lurking about.

Sandy lives in her own happily-ever-after with her Bible doctrine writer husband in the west they love. They have five children and nine grandchildren. She enjoys crocheting (a different kind of yarn) and is also a professional artist.

Guest Post from Sandy Faye Mauck

They say to write the book that is missing from your bookshelf. So I did. I wrote a story that brought the purity of a Christian romance with a touch of humor and endearing characters who live what they believe, with real enemies and redemptive grace.

More Than She Dreamt is set at the time just after the turn of the century. Probably my favorite time travel place if I had to choose because of the interesting changes and the lovely clothing and yet there was indoor plumbing, and lights, LOL!

My greatest writing inspiration (other than my Lord), was my favorite author, Grace Livingston Hill. She could tell a story, make you feel you were there in every sense. Grace could bring romance, excitement, and enemies and then touch your heart with a truth of God’s word that would penetrate your heart. I hope to do this as I write my heart and I add humor because that is who I am.

I hope you enjoy this Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and the special personal giveaway at the end!

Where has this year gone? Seriously, wasn’t it just last month we were complaining about the snow? Weren’t we just taking down the Christmas Decorations? Some of you might be feeling the same uneasiness that I do right now. Summer is here and before we know it, we will be planning the holiday events. It is a little dizzying, isn’t it?

I get a little sad thinking about all of the things that I wanted to accomplish and just never get around to them. I am frustrated by my inability to be realistic when setting goals for my year. I get remorseful thinking about the things the Lord has asked me to do and I have failed – yet again. This life, this frail, fleeting life is rough.

OK…this is a little deep for this early in the morning, I grant you. But I AM a morning person, much to the chagrin of my family and co-workers, and I happen to do my best thinking at this time. My creative juices are flowing and the synapses in my brain are on overload – now that the first cup of coffee has kicked in. So here is where I am going with all of this…..

……PLANNING.

I am a planner. I am an organizer (notice I didn’t say that I am organized). I love planners, and notebooks, and pens…OH MY! I can never get enough. Combine that with my obsession of Pinterest and that is a recipe for ….SOMETHING….not sure what. But all I can say is my wallet cannot afford my obsessions. Come on….I AM a writer after all! Doesn’t a gal need notebooks?

Last year I wanted to satiate my desire for art, writing, and planning. I wanted to “create” my own planner and really USE it. I found the most expensive planners (just looked at them online, of course) and put a whole bunch of great ideas into ONE notebook. I thought I was being pretty clever. I spent all of about a week getting everything in to that notebook. I was so proud of myself. And I must say, I think I did a pretty good job for just throwing it together like that!

But here’s the thing…or a few things.

After a few months, I could see that the system I was using didn’t allow for the creativity I wanted to express.

I didn’t like the way it was set up.

There were lots of headers that I hardly used – most of them I never used.

I have wasted a LOT of space that I really wanted to use for something else, but I had already written on that page.

So, what I would like to do is spend the next several weeks going over my OLD system, showing you my mistakes, and then how I am GOING to to it. My goal in this is two-fold.

First, I want to show you, my readers, that we can ALL learn from mistakes. This life will ALWAYS have do-overs. Thank you, Jesus!

Secondly, I would like to teach you how you, too, can find a system that will work for you, if you take the time to figure out what you really need and want.

LESSON:

I am a writer and I tend to rush headlong into a project without REALLY doing all the preparation the way it is supposed to be done. Sure, I have an idea in my head and I may even write it out. But I get started with the story I am writing and I quit. Why? Because I didn’t take the time to really research and plan out and take notes and invest my time prepping. I thought I was smart enough, organized enough, talented enough, to just “do it.” HA!!! That is just setting myself up for failure, I have found.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Prayer:

Lord, I have a tendency to continue to make my own plans without seeking guidance. Please forgive my lack of trust in your counsel. Please give me the wisdom to seek out godly counsel when called for, knowledge when that is called for, and You above all. I know that You are concerned for even the smallest details in my life, and that includes setting up a calendar/journal/planner as well as writing a book that you have called me to write.. Thank you for caring for me and being with me all the time. Amen.

So, will you join me on this little venture? Let me know in the comments section if you are wanting to do this with me. That way I will have some lovely faces to picture in my head when I start the blogs. Also, let me know if you are already doing some kind of journaling or planning and what system you like to use.

About the Book

An old fence separates a modern community from their Amish neighbors, until a little boy opens the gate and breaks down barriers between them. Main characters, Matt and Eli, find friendship, hope, and a future through a mutual need, which creates an opportunity for them to learn to understand each other. Eli and his little sisters will touch your heart by Whispering to Horses.

About the Author

Thomas Nye, author of the Amish Horses Book Series, Lives near an Amish community where he grew to know and respect his Amish neighbors. During grade school Thomas developed an interest in history and loved reading anything he could find about the 1800s. His love of farm, history, and horses all came together in real-life experiences with his Amish friends, who also happen to share his Christian faith. He purchased draft horses from Amish farmers in his neighborhood and set out to learn the art of working with horses in harness. After years of buying, selling, and trading work horses with Amish farmers in his community, Thomas had many wonderful memories of those experiences. His novels based on those adventures. Learn more about Thomas Nye on his website.

My Thoughts

When I received this novella, I will admit I had some misgivings. At first I thought it would be more of a children’s book. Then I began to read it and I was blown away! This story is so fascinating and the author did a marvelous job of capturing certain aspects of the Amish life and how they interact with the outside world. Each page is chock full of vivid pictures of the simple life and the beauty which the people and their lifestyles bring to each place in which they live.

Having lived close to Amish country for many years, I found myself drawn in to the relationship between this young boy and his adult neighbor. The friendship that is formed through working together and memories of grandparents is beautiful. The adjoining properties provides the perfect backdrop for tension between the modern world and the Amish life. I am so excited about adding more of this author’s books to my TBR stack!

Guest Post from Thomas Nye

Last spring, I visited numerous Amish communities throughout the state of Indiana. My original goal was to bring awareness of my Amish Horses book series to the Amish and tourists in that region. As I traveled down quiet country roads, my heart was overwhelmed by beautiful farm scenes. Conversations with Amish families, and especially Amish children, brought a new awareness and inspiration to me. Springtime and its rich aromas flooded my senses and filled my heart with a story, Whispering to Horses.

Whispering to Horses is a very short novel which spans several generations. It is the story of two families that live side-by-side for years, and yet are strangers to each other. A fence that was installed to keep livestock apart has become a dividing line, separating Amish from their non-Amish neighbors. Years ago, when putting in the fence, an Amishman remembered his grandfather’s advice, almost prophetically, “… a gate opens the way for help in time of need.” Generations later, a gentle Amish boy named Eli, seems to have inherited his great-great-grandfather’s wisdom, as he opens the gate and communication between neighbors.

Kalona, Iowa has been my home for the past 35 years. Living in an Amish/Mennonite community, I have experienced many situations exactly like the one described in this book. It is so easy for us to look over a fence and have a disdain for people we don’t know, or understand. Sometimes, a little child can use their simple wisdom to break through our misconceptions, and soften our crusty opinions. In my hundreds of visits to Amish farms, it has been the children that have surprised me most. Even though English is their second language, Amish children speak with wisdom that has become a treasure to me, and I want to share it with you. I hope the story of Whispering to Horses opens your eyes, and brings back memories of your own childhood, when we all shared that simple wisdom.

Sharing a “shower-secret” seems a little revealing, but this morning, my time in the shower revealed a truth that has a deeper meaning.

I have a large bottle of cleanser on the top corner shelf of my shower stall. It is a facial cleanser that I use every time I wash my face. But I keep coming in and finding that it leaked and made a mess on the shelves beneath it. As I cleaned it off for the umpteenth time this morning, I got to thinking about how this seemingly innocent bottle was a reflection of my life.

The bottle is not at all full of product and yet it acts like it is too full to keep all of the product in its container. It looks at me, mocking me, as it drips it’s expensive content out as if to say, “So what are you going to do about it?” I get a washcloth and clean it up and watch another drop begin to form.

Pressure. That’s what it is. Just plain ol’ pressure.

I wasn’t very good in science in school, but what I do remember from some high school class is that when the pressure from the outside exceed the pressure pushing back from the inside, the inside goes “out.” Follow?

Of course you probably have already figured out what took me years to fully understand, but there it is. My life. The pressures in my life tend to be pressuring me to force things out of my mouth that really shouldn’t come out. Only, unlike the cleanser, the words that escape and drip, are not “cleansing”, they are sometimes mean and caustic. They harmful and regretful.

So, if I look to that bottle for the solution, what do I find. Well, I know thins might be a stretch, but allow me to run with my thought here. If I deliberately dispense what I need from that bottle on a regular basis, the dripping doesn’t happen as often, or at all. So MAYBE what I need to be doing is going to the “source” of the “cleanser” (the Word) on a regular basis and taking something from it so that when the normal pressures of life come along, the “bad” stuff won’t leak out.?

Yes, I know it’s a stretch, but that’s how my mind works.

Have a blessed day! And may the pressure of life be less than that pressure inside your spirit.

About the Book

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Obedience is better than sacrifice…and trumps romance, no matter how sweet.

Profound loneliness propels a childless widow west to choose an orphan to share her life. On the way, a fellow traveler takes her by surprise. She never dreams, is unprepared, doesn’t need another man, but can’t get him out of her head…or heart. He’s so perfect—every bit the one she’d searched for as a young woman—except his mistrust of God has erected a wall she cannot breach.

Marcus Ford blames God and struggles for peace after losing his wife and baby. Not once has he considered another woman could be the answer, but the widow is like none other he’s ever met. He falls hard, but plans are taking him east. Hope dashed sends two hearts into the pit. If only Ford could forgive God or the widow ease up on her adamant resolve.

Will God’s mercy shine a beacon in the fog of despair and prove sufficient to heal their souls?

MY THOUGHTS

Not willing to let age deter her from a new beginning, Rebecca leaves the comfort of her home is search of a family to call her own. Along the way she discovers that her heart and her head do not always come to the same conclusion and she decides that she cannot allow her passion to overrule her convictions. Her family comes together in a very non-traditional way, but the love and support from all of them convinces her that the Lord always has her best in store. I found myself relating to Rebecca, knowing a mother’s heart yearns for her children no matter where her children come from. I love that Marcus isn’t made of money and works hard to earn a living.

This is a wonderful story of second chances, new beginnings and trusting God in every moment. I needed to be reminded that the Lord is Lord of second chances and that all we need to do is remember His promises to get us through each day. Once again, Caryl weaves a story with beautiful characters and believable settings in a time-gone-by.. And most importantly I enjoy the way she brings in characters from previous books and adds new ones in a way that each story in the series could be a stand-alone book. Thank you, Caryl, for sharing your gift of story-telling with everyone.

About the Author

Caryl McAdoo is all about loving God! She currently writes four series: the historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; The Generations, her Biblical fiction, and the newest Days of Dread Trilogy for mid-grade readers. Known as the Singing Pray-er, she loves praising with new songs the Lord gives her and prays her story gives God glory! In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Besides glorifying Him, she hopes each title will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

Guest Post from Caryl McAdoo

Obedience Trumps Romance

Rebecca, forty-two years young, has never known true love. Oh she’s loved—and had a best friend—but that special made-just-for-her soul mate, she’d never met. She settled, instead, and lived a happy life, even though never blessed with children. Then the unthinkable happened, and she found herself alone, widowed too soon by the Civil War that claimed so many lives.

Rather than throw a pity party, she prayed and formulated a plan for the rest of her life. God gave her a way to turn her mourning into dancing! She’d adopt an needy child to love and fill her lonely days with joy. And her sisters in San Francisco happened to have an orphanage. She’d never traveled by herself, but determined to put the idea into action, she left Clarksville, Texas for a month long journey to California!

This new story is one of my favorites as it extols the goodness of the Lord, how His plans are always so high above mere man’s, and how He moves those who love Him into place to receive His blessings. And Rebecca had loved Him since a little girl. He’d been her father when she was born without one and then when she’d prayed for a daddy, sent Henry Buckmeyer into her life.

And how do we show God we love Him? By our obedience to His Word.

Before, that’d come relatively easy for her, but early on her trip, a man climbs into the stagecoach and makes her uneasy. Glad that Daddy had bought her a Derringer and taught her to use it, she rides in silence, feeling his gaze and sneaking her own peeks from her reading.

With no idea of the test God was about to put her through, when the fellow traveler finally figures out who she is and speaks, Rebecca is taken aback by the surge of totally unexpected attraction. Marcus Ford was handsome, intelligent, and everything she’d looked for in a suitable man back when she’d been courted.

But alas, he almost hates God, blaming Him for the premature deaths of his wife and baby girl during the yellow fever epidemic that plagued New Orleans. If she leaned one thing from her mother, it was not to unequally yoke herself. Besides, her life had been planned. She had a goal and a child to save. Plus, when her trip took her west, he went east for a job interview.

It was never meant to be. How many times do we make our plans only to be thwarted by circumstances beyond our control? We thought God had been leading us, we’d given Him the glory, and trusted the path to be in His will. So then why—when she at last had her life figured out—had she even met the man? She didn’t need another one, but never experienced what she did in Marcus’ presence.

When confronted with temptation, do we quote God’s Word to the one out to kill us, steal from us, and destroy our lives? Or do we toy with doing exactly what we know we should not? I pray as you read AT LIBERTY TO LOVE, you’ll be encouraged and root for my dear heroine to do what’s right and not give in, not fall into a place God never meant for her to be…or did He?